We have this last season 2013 at the Stoop. Many players are OOC this season and are not expected to be retained so are not allways putting a shift it.

Next season 2014 we move to a new ground and have to apply again for a franchise - or maybe DH will say he's had enough (This is what i expect him to do)

Any players we try to sign at the end of this season will be thinking are they going to even apply for a franchise - llet alone be granted one (which is in doubt). So...who will sign for us? If TR can't get better players than this bunch then we will not get any improvement in 2014.

If we imagined we were going fishing then our pools could be the NRL, Super League, the second tier Australian competitions and then the second tier English competitions.

The exchange rate suggests that the NRL will be a very expensive pool for anyone to go fishing in which cuts down the options of all in Super League.

The Super League competition is one in which established talent is likely to be overpriced if they come to London meaning you are likely to end up with declining veterans or non-established players at a larger price than they are worth.

The second tier English competition has some handy players, especially when people have exploited the Kolpak ruling to sign international Papua New Guineans like Menzie Yere, Jessie Joe Parker and Rodney Pora and some of the younger players cannot be discounted.

But where I think will prove most fruitful is the fringe players in the NRL and lower tier leagues and that is why I am very pleased Tony is in place. He has a proven track record of discovery in these leagues.

Assuming many players are released, then we can strike at what we need.

The quality of Tony's network is such that Phil Bailey was released almost the moment that Tony arrived as he wasn't needed.

I'm not sure how many players in Oz will be interested in coming to any SL club next season. There was an article in the 'Independent' today about how a large part of London's antipodean community are now going home because of the c**p exchange rate between the pound and Oz dollar. Has RB any thoughts on this?

I don't think a single person is angry about the defeat, that's a straw man. But plenty are angry at the surrender which, as a paying customer, I won't accept.

With all respect, I don't think that's what you said in pre-season.

Colly that's so true. I haven't seen such anger at the attitude of the players before. London have been beaten plenty of times before, but that's not what it's about.

Good companies address the concerns of their clients head on.

Yep, getting aussies is now expensive.

Do bear in mind though Mark, that you are unlikely to sign people sign from the lower grades here in Oz. The eligibility rules are such that you need to have played a certain amount of NRL games in 2 seasons to be granted a visa. If someone could check that out as the rules obviously chop and change with regards to the immigration dept and sports visas. But that is my understanding the last time I was told, a couple of years ago. But, and so you know, Tony is indeed looking over here as usual.





Simply that the UK is not a source of great income for australians to save and take money home when they leave. Nor is it a retirement nest egg for some.

HMRC also took some steps to close offshore payments, if I recall correctly, which made the tax proposition different which further impacted take home (to Oz) pay.

What about Kevin Naiqama (younger brother of Wes) at Newcastle who played first grade last season. Currently he is full back for Newcastle's reserve/feeder team. He can also play wing and centre. He is lightning fast and has great footwork. Newcastle has great options at full back (Darius Boyd) wing (Akuila Uate and James McManus) and centre (Dean Gagai, Timana Tahu, B. J. "Joey" Leilua) who are keeping him out of first grade. He would be a star for London.

And Kevin had a great game for the Knights against the Bulldogs last weekend!

Taken from todays Sun (yes i know...)

[iMIKE CHANNING is on the radar of up to six Super League sides.

The Wales star is considering his options after London Broncos indicated they are not yet offering contract extensions to any players.[/i

I'd be really sorry to see Channing go, he might not be the biggest player or the most gifted but he's got attitude and determination in spades, never gives up.

Im a big fan of this guys great attitude as many of you will know but he hasnt got the physique yet to make it. I was hoping to see him at Hooker where i think he would be great. Find it hard to believe 6 clubs up north would be after him just yet in his development.

With only one year left of our franchise it will be interesting to see what 'extensions' the players get.

Can you blame him there is so much uncertainty about the club!

What I was wondering was whether it meant that players down under wouldn't be so interested in stints here, as you're obviously a bit nearer things than we are.

I agree. What a great first try. perfect anticipation and catching of the kick! The second try ws even better, with his catching the pass from Boyd and changing direction twice before scoring.

Please mention him to Tony Rea if you can.

Can anyone confirm if there is even a single space left for another non-European trained player? Robertson, Gower, Kaufusi, Rodney and Bailey are our 5 quota players I believe and 4 of those are signed for 2013 and the other, Bailey, is close to being our best player and I'd hate to see him leave.

I do get confused about who can be signed.

Bailey is allegedly going to Hudddersfield. But I agree he ought to be retained. Sarginson is allegedly going to Wigan. Channing is a major target from the north. That leaves a big hole in the backs.

If Bailey is already signed by Huddersfield, then I would suggest that Naiqama be a target of recruitment, to play full back or centre.

I suspect that the top players wouldn't be as interested for financial reasons. You may find that someone out of contract without many offers may take a position in the UK if the money was a few grand more. This also means that the lesser famous NRL players may make their way over, or ones that have played just enough NRL games over 2 years and qualify.

another one

I can't believe Channing is a major target for SL teams. He must have a good agent. He can't even get into our team!

Quote ="markrammond"The lists of off-contract players are common knowledge: www.zerotackle.com/super-league/ ... ract-2013/ '" First things, first. Let's get our troublesome centre slots sorted as Powell and Rea have used umpteen failed combinations. Darrell Goulding and Ashley Gibson for me. Would make a massive difference. Shame we didn't make right centre a priority for 2013.

Quote ="markrammond"The lists of off-contract players are common knowledge: www.zerotackle.com/super-league/ ... ract-2013/ '" First things, first. Let's get our troublesome centre slots sorted as Powell and Rea have used umpteen failed combinations. Darrell Goulding and Ashley Gibson for me. Would make a massive difference. Shame we didn't make right centre a priority for 2013.

Not true..he's been injured.

As ever, no-one hears about our injuries...all the reviews of last weeks game failed to mention that we had 8 first choice players missing (Millward said we were at full strength!).

The question has been raised in the context of my recommending Kevin Naiqama as to whether the club can find a place for another non-Federation trained player. I don't know the answer to that.

Another issue raised was whether Naiqama as a non-regular NRL player can qualify for a UK visa. I don't know how many NRL games you have to have played to qualify. But Ray Warren pointed out that Naiqama has played 10 first grade games in 2012 and 2013 so far...and scored 9 tries in those 10 games.

Finally, as to Naiqama's availability for a new club, here is part of the transcript of the Newcastle Knights post match press conference with coach Wayne Bennett last Monday night:

[uQuestion[/u: [iIt must be nice to have Akuila Uate pull out and you can bring in Kevin Naiqama and he scores two tries.[/i

[uBennett[/u: [iKevin's a bit of a victim of circumstance here. He should be an NRL player. He should be playing [NRL every week.[/i

Bennett then went on to list the star players who were blocking Naiqama from doing so with the Knights: James McManus (whom Bennett described as the best winger in the NRL), Akuila Uate, who has played wing for Australia, and Darius Boyd, the incumbent Knights full back, who is an Australia rep player.

[uQuestion[/u: [iIs that going to sort of make it hard to retain him at the end of the year?[/i

[uBennett[/u: [iIt probably makes it impossible. But I accept that. He needs to play in the NRL. I've told hold him that. I want him to be successful.[/i